Maroons forward Tim Glasby has opened up about his much publicised Origin debut

WHEN it comes to criticism of the Melbourne Storm enforcer, there is no harsher judge of Tim Glasby than himself.

Tim Glasby will make his Origin debut in game two.

SAY what you like about Tim Glasby.

When it comes to criticism of the Melbourne Storm enforcer, there is no harsher judge of Glasby than himself.

The past week has been a true baptism of fire for the Queensland debutant, who arrived into his first Origin camp on Monday only to wake to headlines on Tuesday claiming he was an “NRL Nobody”.

Glasby has been judged on everything, from how many metres he runs each game to how many tackles he makes.

But what those in NSW don’t realise is just how hard the 28-year-old has worked over his lifetime to get to this point today.

From exiting the under-20s system without a contract to knocking back a pre-season opportunity with the Brisbane Broncos, it’s been a tough slog for the Townsville-born, Rockhampton-bred Glasby.

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Tim Glasby during a clinic at their fan day in Mackay. Pic Peter Wallis

But on Wednesday night, those years of toiling away in reserve grade, just waiting to be noticed, will bring the ultimate reward.

When people speak about Glasby — from his teammate Cameron Smith to Melbourne coach Craig Bellamy to his proud mum Tracie — there is one clear theme through it all.

He is a mighty hard worker.

Glasby himself knows this is true. But he says his work ethic stems from two other aspects of his personality — his competitiveness and his impatience.

“I just want to be ahead,” Glasby told The Sunday Mail.

“I’m probably too competitive for my own good. I’m very impatient as well. I just want to be at the top of whatever I’m doing.

“Once I set my mind to something, I have to have it. From that comes the hard work because I understand that you have to work hard to get stuff done and get it done quickly.”

According to Glasby’s mum Tracie, he has been like this his entire life.

She said he excelled at everything he did, from soccer to rugby league to his school work.

But it wasn’t until he was 15 that someone stood up and took notice of Glasby’s true potential.

His now manager Allan Gainey first spotted him at a state carnival and approached Glasby’s dad Graham to sign him up.

Two years later Glasby was handed his first shot at making a rugby league career with Penrith.

At the age of 17, Glasby and his high school sweetheart and now wife Casey packed their bags and moved to NSW, away from all their family and friends.

For a kid who had only ever really known life in Rockhampton and Gladstone — having moved from Townsville at six-months-old — it was a tough initiation into a rugby league system.

He played the 2007 season in SG Ball, before moving into the under-20s in 2008 and 2009.

At the end however, there was no NRL contract on offer for Glasby.

The couple decided to move back to Rockhampton where he signed a deal with Intrust Super Cup side CQ Capras and studied and worked in financial planning.

This was his life for the next two years.

“I thought it was a long shot that (an NRL career) would ever happen,” Glasby said.

“People have asked if I thought it was over at that stage and yeah, I did.

“But I was happy playing Queensland Cup. I thought if this is the highest level I can play at, then I want to be the best at that. If NRL happens, it happens.”

At the end of 2011, Glasby’s endeavour to be the best in the Intrust Super Cup started to earn him some attention.

He received a call from the Broncos who wanted him to come and train with the club for 10 weeks in the lead up to the 2012 season.

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Tim Glasby during a Maroons training session.

There was no guarantee of a contract and it was a chance of a lifetime for Glasby — but it was one he had to turn down.

No matter how badly he wanted to prove himself, he simply could not afford the trip down to Brisbane at that stage in his life.

“I had a full-time job and a mortgage as well, so I couldn’t afford to take 10 weeks off work,” Glasby said.

“They offered a bit of money for me and I certainly looked into it. I would have loved to have gone and given it a crack.

“It would have been too difficult so I turned them away. I still hoped that maybe a club might pick me up because I knew I was playing good footy for the (Capras).

“It was disappointing but I knew I had to let it go, keep playing footy and to see what happens.”

That sacrifice Glasby made paid off, when Melbourne came calling in June 2012 with a genuine offer.

“When the Storm called, it was a pretty surreal moment,” Glasby said.

“They gave me a call and asked if I would be interested.

“I told them my situation and said if we can work together on getting this sorted out, I would be so happy to give it a go. They were great.”

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Tim Glasby and his wife Casey, child Parker and Parents Tracie and Graham.

Glasby has not looked back since.

He has battled his way through to become a regular face in Melbourne’s first grade side and last year played in the grand final.

But now he has reached what could be the pinnacle of his career — State of Origin.

And just like everything else in his life, Glasby is ready to work hard and to show the doubters why he deserves to wear that famous maroon jersey.

“I want to be at my best more than anything,” he said.

“It’s what drives me. I just want to get the best out of myself. That’s what I’ll do this week.

“People have said that I’m a nobody. Well I am, because I just work hard and I just do whatever I can and it seems to help the Storm.

“Hopefully it will help the Maroons as well.”